Raymond A. Brading

Raymond Abernathy Brading (14 May 1798-2 June 1861) was the Mayor of Grand Rapids, Michigan from 1836 to 1843.

Biography
Raymond Abernathy Brading was born on 14 May 1798 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Brading's family moved west to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1812, and Brading became the owner of a lumber mill that his uncle had once managed. Brading joined the conservative US Democratic Party in 1829, and Brading won the mayoral election of Grand Rapids in 1836. Brading served seven terms as mayor, resigning in 1843 to take care of his lumber business. Brading died in 1843 at the age of 63.